Spain’s Road to the World Cup Final vs Argentina

Spain secured its place in the championship match after a memorable knockout run that blended resilience with flashes of brilliance. The tournament’s “Cinderella” story, Cape Verde, forced a 0‑0 draw in the group stage, but Spain never looked back. A hamstring‑restricted teenager, Lamine Yamal, made his World Cup debut off the bench against Cape Verde and quickly became a focal point of the campaign. His first World Cup goal, netting against Saudi Arabia, marked a new record for the youngest scorer since Pelé in 1958, though he has yet to find the net since that breakthrough strike.

Mikel Oyarzabal proved to be a reliable threat, converting five times for the 2010 champions, most notably a decisive penalty in the semifinal clash with France. Mikel Merino reinforced his reputation as “the clutch king” with two late‑game goals that sealed crucial victories. The Spanish manager, Luis de la Fuente, expressed confidence despite Yamal and defender Pedro Porro training apart from the full squad on Thursday, July 16, after the semifinal triumph.

Spain will meet Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the final on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The defending champions have maintained a consistent starting XI throughout the knockout phases, and the coach indicated a likely continuation of the same game plan against the South American side. Argentina’s status as title holders adds extra weight to an already high‑stakes showdown.

Projected Spanish Lineup for the Championship

• Midfielders: Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Álex Baena
• Forwards: Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal

The backbone of Spain’s attack will revolve around its youthful talent and experienced finishers, hoping to dictate play from the front and create scoring chances for the full backline. Keeping a clean sheet will be vital, especially against a Argentinian side known for its attacking flair.

See Spain’s 18‑year‑old Phenom Lamine Yamal in Action

The coach’s Starting XI has mostly stayed the same through the knockout rounds and he might stick to the game plan against Lionel Messi and the defending champions.

– Contributing: Jon Arnold

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Spain projected starting lineup for World Cup final

• Midfielders: Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Álex Baena

• Forwards: Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal

When is the World Cup final?

• Location: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spain projected lineup for World Cup final vs. Argentina: Will Lamine Yamal start?